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Einar Aas, 74

GREAT BARRINGTON - Einar Aas, 74, of Hurlburt Road died Sunday, July 13, 2008, at home following a prolonged illness. He was the longtime ski school and snow sports director at Ski Butternut. Born in Trondheim, Norway, on July 6, 1934, son of Asbjorn and Asbjorg Olson Aas, he graduated from high school in Trondheim and received a degree in mechanical engineering from Trondheim Technical College. He served in the Norwegian army. He moved to Montreal in 1960, to Boston in 1962 and to Berkshire County two years later. Mr. Aas taught science and mathematics at the former Kingsley Hall in Egremont and then at the former Winchester School in Sheffield. He first worked as a mechanical engineer for Wiggs, Walford, Frost & Lindsay in Montreal and for Metcalf & Eddy in Boston. He taught skiing and ran the racing program beginning in 1964 what was then Butternut Basin, now Ski Butternut, and was the director of its summer day camp from 1968 until the camp's closing in the 1980s. In 1968, he opened the Butternut Ski Shop and became the director of the ski school and later snow sports director and manager of the rental shop, a job he held for the rest of his life. He earlier taught at Gray Rocks ski resort in Canada, at Mount Snow and at Blue Hills, and was the director of the ski school at Madonna Mountain (now Smugglers' Notch) in Vermont. He was certified by the Canadian Ski Instructors Association and became an examiner in 1962. Certified by the Professional Ski Instructors of America in 1964, he served on the board of directors of its eastern division for 29 years starting in 1973 and was president for several years. He received a lifetime membership in 2002. He also served on and was president of PSIA's national board of directors. For more than two decades, Mr. Aas helped plan and organize the Josh Billings Runaground, for which he was the official starter until 2007. He enjoyed running, cycling and orienteering, and played soccer, tennis and ice hockey. He coached soccer at Monument Mountain Regional High School and loved music, reading, politics, language and wordplay. He leaves his wife, Nancy Duryee-Aas; a son, Sven Aas (by his former wife, Bonnie Dyer-Bennet) and his wife, Leslie Fields, of Hadley; a stepdaughter, Lauren Ann Duryee of Hoboken, N.J.; three stepsons, Abram W. "Burr" Duryee and his wife, Deborah Crispin Duryee, of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, Steven Duryee of Hoboken and John Clarke "J.C." Duryee of Stockbridge; a brother, Tor Amund Aas and his wife, Inger, of Trondheim; his grandchildren and stepgrandchildre, James Aas, Christopher Aas, Crispin Duryee, Piper Duryee and Campbell Claire Duryee; a niece, Mette Marie Aas of Afjord, Norway, and great-nephews Steffen Aas Mathisen and Adrian Aas Mathisen, both of Trondheim. FUNERAL SERVICE - The family will receive friends on Wednesday, July 16, from 4 until 7 at Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home in Great Barrington. A memorial celebration with a reception to follow will be held at Ski Butternut on Sunday, Sept. 21, at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to HospiceCare in the Berkshires or the Lance Armstrong Foundation through funeral home, 426 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. Remembrances, memories and reflections may be sent to the family through www.finnertyandstevens.com.
Recollections & Sympathy For the Family
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Einar Aas taught me how to ski and play soccer as a high school student at Kingsley Hall School in 1964-67.

That was a long time ago, I know. But I remember him well.
Einar and Winston are playing soccer together up there with all the angels.


from: Andres Farromequeon: 06-10-2010

Einar Aas taught me how to ski and play soccer as a high school student at Kingsley Hall School in 1964-67.

That was a long time ago, I know. But I remember him well.
from: on: 03-14-2009

Einar was the greatest! He will be missed on every ski run I take, whether at Butternut or beyond. I am proud to say I learned how to ski from him and his instructors, starting at age 5 in 1969. He also did a great job running the summer camp where I enjoyed many days of archery, swimming, hiking, canoeing and, of course, bug juice.
from: Jeremy Shatanon: 09-21-2008

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